---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jackson, Matt <mjj5328@psu.edu>
Date: Sat, Feb 5, 2022 at 4:33 PM
Subject: MLAX: Penn State Wins 20-15 in Season Opener
To: <MLAX-MEDIA-L@lists.psu.edu>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Feb. 5, 2022)
No. 20 Penn State Opens Season with 20-15 Win Over Lafayette
Jack Kelly and Jack Traynor each totaled four goals and one assist
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Jack Kelly, Jack Traynor and Kyle Aldridge totaled five points apiece while leading No. 20 Penn State men’s lacrosse to a season-opening 20-15 win over visiting Lafayette Saturday at Holuba Hall.
The Nittany Lions found themselves down by one, 12-11 at the half, but outscored the Leopards 9-3 over the final two quarters to pick up the win. Freshman Jack Fracyon stopped four of the seven shots he faced in the second half. He secured his first win in his collegiate debut after playing the final 38:04 in goal, finishing with six saves on 11 chances.
Kelly, Traynor and Aldridge paced an offensive effort in a game that saw Penn State score its most goals since a 22-7 win over Furman on March 10, 2019. The Lions game against Lafayette was their first against a non-conference opponent since that lopsided win over the Paladins.
Kelly and Traynor’s five points came on identical stat lines of four goals and one assist. Aldridge, a freshman, was more of a distributor on the day, finishing with two goals and three assists in his first collegiate game.
A wild first half that included a combined 23 goals was kicked off by Traynor. He scored the team’s first goal of the season just 15 seconds after the opening whistle. It was one of three goals in the first minute of the contest as Lafayette took a 2-1 lead with a goal 43 seconds into the game and another 13 seconds after that.
Penn State scored four of the next five goals to take a 5-3 lead. Aldridge’s first career goal came 2:17 into the game and was followed by a score from Kelly. Lafayette tied it up before another freshman, Will Peden, beat the goalie for his first career goal with an assist from Tate Gallagher, a transfer from Richmond playing his first game for the Lions. Peden then assisted on Kelly’s second goal of the game. Brian Townsend, a senior who missed last season due to an injury, put himself on the scoresheet for the first time since 2019 before the Leopards responded with back-to-back goals to make it a 6-6 score after one quarter.
The offensive explosion didn’t slow down in the second quarter as the teams combined for another 11 goals. The final score came from Ryan Duncan with three seconds left on the clock to give the Leopards a one-goal advantage at the break.
Freshman Nils Barry had three goals in the second quarter. All three were assisted by freshmen – Peden, Aldridge and Ethan Long. Kelly also had a hat trick before halftime, scoring his third goal with 9:14 to play in the second quarter.
Penn State’s defense made the necessary adjustments to turn things around in the second half, solving the difficult issue of seeing the ball in the indoor facility. The Lions forced 10 turnovers while allowing just seven shots on goal over the final two quarters. Grant Haus, Brett Funk and Brayden Peck each caused two turnovers in the game. Townsend, Gallagher, and freshman Kevin Parnham caused one turnover apiece.
Meanwhile, Penn State’s offense never slowed down, adding four goals in the third quarter and five in the fourth. Reaume tied the game twice, knotting it at 12-12 with 12:53 showing on the clock and at 13-13 with 5:54 left in the quarter. Those were much-needed goals as they set the stage for the Lions to pull away. Traynor tallied his second score at 4:21 left in the quarter before Mac Costin made it a two-goal game, 15-13, with 20 seconds remaining on the clock.
Lafayette wasn’t done yet, getting within one goal at 15-14 just 1:27 into the fourth quarter. After more than five minutes of scoreless play, Penn State finally distanced itself from the determined Leopards with a 4-0 run. Traynor scored twice, while Kelly and Aldridge each had one goal during the run.
Barry and Peden were strong in their debuts. Barry finished with three goals and one assist, while Peden contributed one goal and two assists. Costin and Reaume scored two goals apiece. Townsend and Mark Sickler each scored once. Chipping in with one assist were Jeb Brenfleck, Canyon Birch, Long, and Gallagher.
Lafayette was paced by Peter Lehman, the 2021 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, with four goals and one assist. Ryan Duncan scored three goals.
Yet another player making his debut, sophomore Hudson Bohn, held a slight advantage over his opponents on faceoffs, going 9-17 while adding eight ground balls. Parnham led all non-faceoff Lions in ground balls with five. Peck and Sutton Boland each chipped in with three ground balls.
Penn State improved to 27-0 in the all-time series with Lafayette. The teams first played each other in 1927.
The Lions stay in Happy Valley for their next two games, starting with a matchup with Villanova on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Wildcats, who will be playing their first game of the season, received votes in the USILA Preseason Coaches Poll.
Matt Jackson
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
Women’s Volleyball | Men’s Gymnastics | Men’s Lacrosse
814-876-2710
From: Jackson, Matt <mjj5328@psu.edu>
Date: Sat, Feb 5, 2022 at 4:33 PM
Subject: MLAX: Penn State Wins 20-15 in Season Opener
To: <MLAX-MEDIA-L@lists.psu.edu>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Feb. 5, 2022)
No. 20 Penn State Opens Season with 20-15 Win Over Lafayette
Jack Kelly and Jack Traynor each totaled four goals and one assist
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Jack Kelly, Jack Traynor and Kyle Aldridge totaled five points apiece while leading No. 20 Penn State men’s lacrosse to a season-opening 20-15 win over visiting Lafayette Saturday at Holuba Hall.
The Nittany Lions found themselves down by one, 12-11 at the half, but outscored the Leopards 9-3 over the final two quarters to pick up the win. Freshman Jack Fracyon stopped four of the seven shots he faced in the second half. He secured his first win in his collegiate debut after playing the final 38:04 in goal, finishing with six saves on 11 chances.
Kelly, Traynor and Aldridge paced an offensive effort in a game that saw Penn State score its most goals since a 22-7 win over Furman on March 10, 2019. The Lions game against Lafayette was their first against a non-conference opponent since that lopsided win over the Paladins.
Kelly and Traynor’s five points came on identical stat lines of four goals and one assist. Aldridge, a freshman, was more of a distributor on the day, finishing with two goals and three assists in his first collegiate game.
A wild first half that included a combined 23 goals was kicked off by Traynor. He scored the team’s first goal of the season just 15 seconds after the opening whistle. It was one of three goals in the first minute of the contest as Lafayette took a 2-1 lead with a goal 43 seconds into the game and another 13 seconds after that.
Penn State scored four of the next five goals to take a 5-3 lead. Aldridge’s first career goal came 2:17 into the game and was followed by a score from Kelly. Lafayette tied it up before another freshman, Will Peden, beat the goalie for his first career goal with an assist from Tate Gallagher, a transfer from Richmond playing his first game for the Lions. Peden then assisted on Kelly’s second goal of the game. Brian Townsend, a senior who missed last season due to an injury, put himself on the scoresheet for the first time since 2019 before the Leopards responded with back-to-back goals to make it a 6-6 score after one quarter.
The offensive explosion didn’t slow down in the second quarter as the teams combined for another 11 goals. The final score came from Ryan Duncan with three seconds left on the clock to give the Leopards a one-goal advantage at the break.
Freshman Nils Barry had three goals in the second quarter. All three were assisted by freshmen – Peden, Aldridge and Ethan Long. Kelly also had a hat trick before halftime, scoring his third goal with 9:14 to play in the second quarter.
Penn State’s defense made the necessary adjustments to turn things around in the second half, solving the difficult issue of seeing the ball in the indoor facility. The Lions forced 10 turnovers while allowing just seven shots on goal over the final two quarters. Grant Haus, Brett Funk and Brayden Peck each caused two turnovers in the game. Townsend, Gallagher, and freshman Kevin Parnham caused one turnover apiece.
Meanwhile, Penn State’s offense never slowed down, adding four goals in the third quarter and five in the fourth. Reaume tied the game twice, knotting it at 12-12 with 12:53 showing on the clock and at 13-13 with 5:54 left in the quarter. Those were much-needed goals as they set the stage for the Lions to pull away. Traynor tallied his second score at 4:21 left in the quarter before Mac Costin made it a two-goal game, 15-13, with 20 seconds remaining on the clock.
Lafayette wasn’t done yet, getting within one goal at 15-14 just 1:27 into the fourth quarter. After more than five minutes of scoreless play, Penn State finally distanced itself from the determined Leopards with a 4-0 run. Traynor scored twice, while Kelly and Aldridge each had one goal during the run.
Barry and Peden were strong in their debuts. Barry finished with three goals and one assist, while Peden contributed one goal and two assists. Costin and Reaume scored two goals apiece. Townsend and Mark Sickler each scored once. Chipping in with one assist were Jeb Brenfleck, Canyon Birch, Long, and Gallagher.
Lafayette was paced by Peter Lehman, the 2021 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, with four goals and one assist. Ryan Duncan scored three goals.
Yet another player making his debut, sophomore Hudson Bohn, held a slight advantage over his opponents on faceoffs, going 9-17 while adding eight ground balls. Parnham led all non-faceoff Lions in ground balls with five. Peck and Sutton Boland each chipped in with three ground balls.
Penn State improved to 27-0 in the all-time series with Lafayette. The teams first played each other in 1927.
The Lions stay in Happy Valley for their next two games, starting with a matchup with Villanova on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Wildcats, who will be playing their first game of the season, received votes in the USILA Preseason Coaches Poll.
Matt Jackson
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
Women’s Volleyball | Men’s Gymnastics | Men’s Lacrosse
814-876-2710
